Portable sound-producing device

ABSTRACT

A portable sound-producing device makes a unique sound likened to a deep, animal-like growl when used. The device comprises of a housing and a pull cord. The housing comprises of a hollow, polygonal- or tubular-shaped body with one of its two ends completely covered by a tautly stretched covering. The pull cord is securely attached to the center of the covering. The remainder of the cord hangs freely inside the housing. When the cord is pulled and quickly released, the sound the invention makes can be used to frighten those who hear it as a practical joke or as a hunter&#39;s tool to clear an area of people and animals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates generally to sound-producing devices. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a portable sound-producingdevice that makes a sound very similar to a deep, animal-like growl whenused.

2. Description of Related Art

Many devices are known in the prior art that make sounds when usedeither for amusement or for a practical purpose. These disclosedinventions range from relatively simple devices to the rather complex.

Anecdotal information exists regarding devices being built across theAmerican countryside about 100 years ago that, when used, produced anunusual sound—a sound similar to an animal growling. These devices,built of hollowed logs, were made purely to provide amusement forchildren and adults alike.

However, neither the prior art nor the anecdote disclose an easilycarried device that consistently produces a deep, animal-like growlingsound that can be used either to frighten people as a practical joke oras a tool to clear an area of people and animals. It would be beneficialif a relatively easily portable device could be produced thatconsistently made a deep, animal-like sound. It would also be beneficialif the device could attract cows and bulls as ranchers could use it tohelp heard cattle.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention comprises of a housing with a hollow, polygonal-or tubular-shaped body. The body has a first end and a second end whichare directly opposed to each other. A covering is stretched completelyacross the first end of the body and attached to the edge of the firstend. The body's second end remains uncovered.

One end of a pull cord is securely attached to the center of thecovering. The remainder of the cord hangs freely inside the housing.When the cord is pulled, the vibrations produced create a sound likenedto a deep, animal-like growl. A ball of wax or some other similarmaterial may be used when pulling on the cord to produce minute startand stops during the pull. The minute start and stops cause the coveringto resonate.

The primary advantage of this portable sound-producing device is theunique sound it creates when used. It can be used to frighten people asa harmless practical joke or as a tool to safely clear an area of peopleand animals. The sound is easily repeatable and relatively consistently.In addition, the sound attracts cows and bulls because the cattle thinkthe sound is coming from a bull.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are setforth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well asa preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, willbe best understood by reference to the following detailed description ofillustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable sound-producing device inaccordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1 inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 present a preferred embodiment of the portablesound-producing device 10 that comprises of a housing 12 and a pull cord20.

Housing 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises of a body 14 and acovering 16. Body 14 is hollow and has a first and second end, directlyopposed to each other. Body 14 can be any polygonal shape, such as therectangle shown in FIG. 1 and 2, or a tubular shape. If body 14 iscomprised of multiple parts, as it is in FIG. 1 and 2, these parts aresecured (screwed, glued, etc.) to each other. Body 14 is comprises of asolid, durable material, such as a wood, metal or plastic. To ensurethat portable sound-producing device 10 makes its unique sound, thefollowing physical characteristics of housing 12 must be maintained. Forexample, the length of housing should be about 1.25 ft. whilemaintaining the volume of resonance chamber 24 at about 0.2 ft³. Otherlengths and volumes may be used to produce various unique sounds.Preferably, housing 12 is of a size and shape that is easily carried byits user.

Covering 16 comprises a pliable layer of animal skin, plastic, or someother relatively easily resonated material. Covering 16 is attached tofirst end of body 14 by screws, nails, tacks, adhesive, or some othersimilar securing material. Covering 16 is tautly stretched over thefirst end of body 14 to completely cover the first end. The amountcovering 16 is stretched prior to attaching to body 14 determines thesound portable sound-producing device 10 makes. The less covering 16 isstretched, the deeper the sound device 10 will make. Covering 16 can bemade of an animal skin, such as calfskin, or a synthetic skin similar tothose used on percussion drums. The second end of body 14 remainsuncovered.

Pull cord 20 comprises a slender length of flexible material, such as aheavy cotton twine, with a first and second end. Preferably, the lengthof cord 20 is not shorter than the length of housing 12. Pull cord 20may have a waxy or sticky coating such that pull cord 20 cannot bepulled in a consistent smooth motion but rather the pulling motionconsists of minute stops and starts. If pull cord 20 is pulled in aconsistent smooth motion, then covering 16 may not resonate and may notproduce any sound at all. The heavier or thicker the cotton twine, thedeeper the sound as a relatively heavy pull cord 20 creates a strongerresonance of covering 16. Pull cord 20 may be made of any material thatcan be pulled in minute stops and starts and will resonate covering 16when pulled.

The first end of cord 20 is attached to the underside of covering 16 atits center. Cord 20's second end remains unattached. Cord 20 is attachedin such a manner that it hangs approximately down the center ofresonance chamber 24, perpendicular to the underside of covering 16, andparallel to the inner surface of body 14. Preferably, the first end ofcord 20 is attached to securing means 22 at the outer surface ofcovering 16, as shown in FIG. 2, preventing that end from being tornfrom covering 16 when cord 20 is pulled. Securing means 22 may be anymeans known to secure first end of cord 20 to covering 16.

Using portable sound-producing device 10 is relatively simple. If it isto be used as a practical joke, the user moves within hearing range ofthe intended target and pulls down on cord 22. A deep, animal-like,growling sound is produced that, when portable sound-producing device 10was tested, frightened the vast majority of those who heard it. Hunterscan also use portable sound-producing device 10 to clear an area byusing the sound to scare away people and, possibly, some animals aswell. In addition, ranchers may used sound-producing device 10 toattract cattle.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Further,it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiment(s) described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A portable sound-producing device comprising: a housing having a bodyand a covering; and a pull cord.
 2. The device in claim 1 wherein thebody is polygonal in shape.
 3. The device in claim 1 wherein the body istubular in shape.
 4. The device in claim 1 wherein the body is hollow.5. The device in claim 1 wherein the body is comprised of wood.
 6. Thedevice in claim 1 wherein the body is comprised of plastic.
 7. Thedevice in claim 1 wherein the covering comprises a pliable layer ofanimal skin.
 8. The device in claim 1 wherein the pull cord comprisescotton twine.
 9. A portable sound-producing device comprising: a housinghaving a first end and a second end; a covering comprising resonatingmaterial covering the first end of the housing; and a pull cord having afirst end and a second end wherein the first end is attached to thecovering and the second end is proximate to the second end of thehousing.
 10. The device in claim 9 wherein the housing is polygonal inshape.
 11. The device in claim 9 wherein the housing is tubular inshape.
 12. The device in claim 10 wherein the housing is hollow.
 13. Thedevice in claim 10 wherein the housing is comprised of wood.
 14. Thedevice in claim 1 wherein the housing is comprised of plastic.
 15. Thedevice in claim 1 wherein the covering comprises a pliable layer ofanimal skin.
 16. The device in claim 1 wherein the pull cord comprisescotton twine.
 17. A method of producing a deep, animal-like growlingsound, the method comprising the steps of: grasping a pull cord whereinthe pull cord has a first end and a second end and the first end isattached to a covering that comprises a resonating material and thecovering covers a first end of a housing having the first end and asecond end wherein the second end of the housing is proximate to thesecond end of the pull cord; and pulling the pull cord in a directionaway from the covering such that the covering begins to resonate. 18.The method of claim 17 wherein the housing is comprised of wood.
 19. Themethod of claim 17 wherein the housing is hollow.
 20. The method ofclaim 17 wherein the pull cord comprises cotton twine.